Tuesday, January 2, 2018

2018 is upon us! Wishing a very Happy New Year to everyone in the twinkie tush community! We hope this year brings love, warmth, peace and blessings to each of you, and we wanted to take a moment to say thank you and to give you some updates as we head into 2018!

This video from 2017's "Made in America Week" holds true today and always - we are SO grateful for your love and support of our entirely US-designed and manufactured company and the handmade items we create!!

When I started twinkie tush in my home in late 2010, I had no idea how it would grow. I could not have envisioned where we would be a little over 7 years later, with an ever-growing team of wonderfully skilled and talented employees, having expanded first out of our home and into our initial 1200 square foot studio in Ithaca, NY in 2012, and gradually into the entire 3600 square foot building we now occupy! I could never have anticipated how this work we do would connect us so meaningfully with a widespread and amazing community of families like it has - to know and work with so many of you and to see your children enjoying our products is one of the greatest blessings in our lives. Every day I am filled with gratitude for our amazing customer community.

In 2017 we designed, cut, snapped, sewed, inspected, prepped and shipped approximately 10,000 diapers and over 8,000 togs (not to mention thousands of blankets, wipes, Graduates, wool longies and shorties, soakers, etc.) None of this would be possible without our incredible team, and every day I am filled with gratitude for them as well!

These are just a few behind the scenes looks at the talented, warm and wonderful team behind all of your twinkie tush diapers, blankets, twinkie togs and everything else you receive from twinkie tush HQ!

And a couple shipping day shots from the past year or so! :)

I wish I could put into words what it means to me to work with such completely wonderful people, creating products for other completely wonderful people! It is a cycle of love that I am honored and blessed to be a part of. Our mission statement as a company is to create and offer beautiful and highly functional cloth diapers, clothing, blankets, and accessories for babies, toddlers, and children while fostering a positive company and community environment. Every day I consider it my responsibility to put good into the world, and this company is the most far-reaching way I can do that every day. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me that opportunity.

As we head into 2018, there are a few things on the horizon!

More customs: Customs have long been our hallmark - there is nothing better than planning and custom ordering exactly what you want for your little one! In early 2017 we introduced Easy Peasy Customs, and we continue to offer those along with Send Your Own Fabric customs and In Stock Group Customs each week on our Facebook customs page! We continue to look for new ways to make sure you are able to order exactly what you most love, and what will be most meaningful to you!

New products: In 2018 we will introduce something I am incredibly excited about - women's tops which will be a spin-off of our twinkie togs line! Look for those within the first quarter of the new year! We also have a new take on one of our diapers on the horizon which I am SUPER excited to reveal - that will be on the way early in 2018 as well! We are working on new designs all the time as well as larger and smaller sizes and any improvements we can make to our lines! Follow our Facebook page for all of these announcements and updates as they roll out!

We are also at a point where we need to make price adjustments to some of our products. If you have been with us for a while you know we always endeavor to be incredibly open and transparent about our pricing and policies, and this time is no different! Every year our material costs increase (print and inner/backing fabric, labels, thread, machine parts and replacements, snaps, etc), our overhead increases (rent, insurance, repairs and maintenance, even basics like tissues and other paper products for our team), and it is important to us to continue to provide a fair and competitive wage to our team members. We try very hard not to raise prices unless and until it is genuinely necessary, and we try to keep price increases themselves to a minimum. We introduced twinkie togs in February of 2014, almost 4 years ago, and this will be the first time we have raised prices on togs. Similarly, we have not increased prices on blankets, wipes, or replacement soakers since their various introductions, and this will be the first time you see an increase there. Diaper prices were last increased approximately a year and a half ago by a single dollar, and will only increase by a single dollar at this time. Here is a run down of the price adjustments you will see effective 1/2/18:

Diapers will increase by $1
Blankets will be priced at $37/$49.50/$83 for retail (previously $35/$47/$79)
Tees will be $26/28 ($31/$33 for Euro or coordinate sleeves) (previously $24/$26/$29/$31)
Flutter Dresses will be $42 (previously $39)
Cozy Day Dresses will be $44 (previously $41)
Tea Party Dresses will be $46.50 (previously $44)
Dinner Party Dresses will be $49.50 (previously $47)
Garden Fairy Dresses will be $51/$59 for sizes 6+ (previously $48/$56)
Wipe pack prices will also see a $1.50-$2 increase
Replacement soaker set prices will go up $1
Graduates prices will not increase

All custom pricing will increase in the same dollar amounts (for example a Send Your Own Fabric custom FUSION diaper in OS will be $38). This change will be applied immediately, but of course any groups which have submitted and any EP or ISGC groups that have been posted (even EPs that haven't closed yet) will move through production at old pricing.

I know price increases are never fun, and I wish we could somehow avoid doing them altogether. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your taking the time to understand the need for them, and to continue to make the choice to support a mama-founded, owned, and run company that employs so many wonderful people right here in upstate NY!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post, and thank you again from the bottom of my heart for your incredible support! May 2018 be filled with light and love, and as always, plenty of handmade fluff!! xoxo

Friday, July 7, 2017

Our customers have been asking for undies for a long time now, and we have finally rolled out our newest line, twinkie tush Graduates! This album on Facebook is a great place to start if you are new to Graduates!

Our debut style, the Simple Cut, is offered in boyish and girly finishes. The Simple Cut does not have a liner or a fly.

We have now added the Simple Cut LINED style as well! This style is the same as our Simple Cut, with the addition of a single layer cotton lycra liner in the middle to front portion of the undies!

We are excited to begin offering Graduates in our custom groups and bundles! Starting now you may form SYOF (send your own fabric) groups for Graduates, and we will offer them in our Easy Peasy (EP) groups as well!

Here is everything you need to know in order to form your own SYOF Graduates custom groups:

Custom Graduates may be ordered in groups of 5-20. All items within a single group must be the same (eg Simple Cut girly style) but group members may choose as many different sizes as they would like. Currently, Graduates groups cannot be combined or added onto diaper, twinkie togs, or blanket groups. If that changes we will of course update this post!

Pricing and purchasing:

Pricing per item for custom twinkie tush Graduates, made to your size specifications with the fabric you choose and send in, is as follows (not including shipping):

Simple Cut (boyish or girly style) - $12.50
Simple Cut LINED (boyish or girly style) - $14.50
(Any additional styles will be added here as soon as they are ready to be included in the SYOF process.)

For the time being, we will stock custom slots on www.twinkietush.com at our stockings. If listings sell out we will re-stock each week.

The Group Leader, or any group member, can purchase the appropriate group listing, thereby paying for their own slot. And here is where we are doing things a bit differently than we do with diapers and blankets. Due to the limitations of certain fabrics, all Graduates fabric must be approved by twinkie tush before group production commences. We will not invoice the rest of the group members until the group fabric has been approved. Before purchasing a group slot, you can certainly email groupcustoms@twinkietush.com so that we can weigh in on your fabric. We may be able to approve it based on a fabric listing, but please note that in some cases it is not possible for us to tell until we have a fabric in hand whether or not it is usable for the selected Graduates style. We are going to do everything in our power to make sure that you are well informed about fabrics so that you do not waste time and money sending in a fabric that will not work. Please take a moment to read through the following section before planning a group.

What constitutes a good fabric vs. a not so good choice?

Some choices that would NOT work:

Swimsuit knits: We will not be able to use any traditional poly lycra or swimsuit fabric for Graduates. Please note that the cotton-like poly lycra options offered as “modern jersey” by Spoonflower or “perfect poly jersey” by Ixat ARE an acceptable choice, however. “Performance knit” at Spoonflower is NOT an acceptable choice.

Wovens: Woven fabrics (sometimes called quilting cotton or 100% cotton woven) are NOT an acceptable choice for Graduates.

Sweatshirting: Sweatshirt knits are not something we can work with for Graduates.

Some GOOD choices:

Euro knits: Euro knits are a very good choice. Etsy and DaWanda offer many Euro knit options. Things labeled “Jersey/Elastin” are an example of a great choice in almost all cases.

Cotton Lycra: Most cotton lycra is a very good choice. Many sellers offer cotton lycra options, including Facebook printing groups, Funkalicious, Girl Charlee, and Nature’s Fabrics (to name just a few!)

Cotton-like poly Jersey by reputable sellers: “Modern Jersey” at Spoonflower and “Perfect Poly Jersey” from Ixat are very good choices.

Iffy choices:

Ribs: Rib knits and baby rib knits work on a limited basis, but do not work well with certain styles. If you are considering a rib knit, please be aware that it may be problematic.

French Terry: French Terry does not offer the stretch and drape we need for some of our current dress styles, but can be used for tees and should be workable for Graduates as well.

Questionable knits: Very thin jersey can also be problematic, and does not always make for durable, high quality items. It can be very hard to tell from a fabric listing how thin a fabric is, unfortunately. We highly recommend sticking with the recommended fabric types rather than venturing too far into the unknown.

Many fabrics labeled “interlock” or “jersey” would be good choices, but sometimes a very thin weight or lack of stretch can make for a low quality choice. This is an example of something that cannot be approved over email but may be approved once we have the fabric in hand.

All fabric must be knit, and minimum of 55" wide. All yardage must be continuous.

We will add to this section as applicable so that we can keep you constantly informed as to the best sources and types of good SYO fabric, but want to reiterate that we reserve the right to decline a group’s fabric if we feel it will not make high quality items. And we also want to reiterate that if your fabric is not approved over email you run the risk of it being declined once sent in.

How exactly do I get my fabric approved and what happens if it is declined?

Group Leaders MUST email groupcustoms@twinkietush.com with a link to their chosen fabric along with their group spreadsheet within 24 hours of purchasing the group slot, and you must hear back from us BEFORE sending in your fabric. We will respond to your email within 48 business hours. This is to save you the expense of possibly sending inappropriate fabric. If you have had your fabric for a while and no longer have a link to the description, please describe the fabric as best you can and include a photo.

We will respond with either a definite go, a definite no, or a possible go. If you get a definite no, please do not send in your fabric. You can choose another fabric with your group or forfeit your slot (in which case of course the Group Leader will be refunded). If you get a definite go, please send in your fabric! Fabric MUST be sent within one week of our reply email, and you must provide a tracking number to your group as well as to us at TTHQ.

If you get a possible go, you can choose to send in your fabric or elect not to take the risk. If you choose not to take the risk, you can choose another fabric with your group or you can forfeit your slot (and again receive a refund for the leader’s slot).

If tracking is not received or another fabric is not selected within one week of our response email, your group will be cancelled.

When your fabric arrives we will give final approval and invoice all remaining group members. The payment window is 48 hours from the payment link email - all payments must be received within that timeframe.

If your fabric is not usable, we will email the group to alert you and we will invoice the Group Leader for return shipping so that we can return the unusable fabric to you. We highly recommend Group Leaders refund group members’ payments for unusable fabric. That means that the financial risk of a potentially unusable fabric would fall to the Group Leader. This is not required – the final decision is yours, but all members should be aware of the Group Leader’s policy with regards to what happens in the event that the group’s fabric is unusable. (Members - ask your Group Leader about this before submitting fabric payment.) Again, please take advantage of the guidance offered above and our opinions via email so that you do not end up sending in something that will not work. It is our hope that 100% of the fabric that makes its way to TTHQ for custom Graduates is approved!

What must be included on the Group Spreadsheet?

The group spreadsheet should be a google doc or attached excel spreadsheet, containing all of the following for each group member:

1 - Full member name
2 - Member name as it appears in paypal account
3 - Member contact email
4 - Member paypal email
6 – Size preference (Please make sure to select a size we offer for your chosen style – that info is below.)

It is essential that the group name includes the Graduates style (eg Girls' Night In Simple Cut Girly Graduates Group).

All Graduates will have solid color leg and waistbands, which we will provide. You can express a group preference for this accent color if you would like to. It must appear on your spreadsheet in a single line (not different colors for different group members). Eg “purple bands if possible”. You will ALSO need to convey this preference in your initial group email which contains the fabric link and the spreadsheet. If you do not express a preference in BOTH the email and the spreadsheet, we cannot guarantee we will receive your preference. And please note that while we will do our best to accommodate such preferences, we may not have the color you ask for and we may feel in person that it is not the right choice. Final selection of accent color will be made by Gretchen at TTHQ.

What sizes are offered in Graduates?

18m
2T
3/4
5/6
7/8
10/12

Please see the sizing chart at the end of this blog post.

Fabric requirements for all current Graduates styles are as follows:

We need 1 yard for every 5 pairs of Graduates (for your group of 5-20 we will need 1-4 yards).

At this point we are not offering special print placement options, but we will always do our best to get you the optimal cuts for your Graduates.

Other things you should know:

*Sometimes fabric that is sent in for group orders contains flaws, printing or otherwise. We always do our best to spot any flaws and cut around them whenever possible. However, sometimes flaws are missed. twinkie tush does not take responsibility for fabric flaws on fabric that has been sent in for group custom orders.

*Custom items will ship within 4-6 weeks of the end of the group invoice period.

*Once invoiced, group members have 48 hours to pay for their slots, or they will be forfeited. We reserve the right to cancel a group and return fabric at the group’s cost if the majority of the group fails to pay for their slots.

*Shipping of the fabric to TTHQ is the responsibility of the group, as is return shipping in the event that a fabric is deemed unusable.

*All approved fabric becomes property of twinkie tush and may be used in whatever way twinkie tush sees fit once a group order is fulfilled.

*Pricing and policy is subject to change at any time.

Thanks so much and happy creating!! We can't wait to make your custom twinkie tush Graduates!!

Sunday, April 30, 2017

It's that time!! Are you ready for another twinkie tush photo contest?? :) We can't wait to get this one running!!

Since our community has grown so much, we are going to stick to one entry per family for this one. :)

The contest will be open for submissions from tomorrow, 5/1/17, through Saturday 5/27/17. That gives you just under 4 weeks to get your entries in, so don’t delay! :) The winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 31st, at 9pm EST. Please read below for important details on how to win!

We will have 3 winners for this contest!

*The second and third place winners will each receive a FREE custom item of their choice (either one diaper, one dress, one tee, one blanket, OR one pair of twinkie tush wool interlock longies or shorties). Free shipping anywhere in the world will also be included! Winners may choose to send in their own fabric or work with us to choose an available in stock fabric for their item, if applicable.

*The first place winner will receive a $200 gift certificate to twinkietush.com!!

We will also draw an additional winner of a $25 gift certificate to twinkietush.com at random from all photo contest participants at the close of the contest!

To enter, please send one photo to photocontest@twinkietush.com, using the template below. You MUST use this template, or your entry will not be included.

The body of your email MUST contain the following information, in this order:

Your name: Your child's name (optional - you can certainly omit this information if you choose) :The item or items featured in your photo: (eg "Track and Field diaper" or "Scorched Playground Tee with Night Lake shorties") - if there are several items visible in your photo, you need only mention the main/most featured item(s).

Your photo must contain an authentic twinkie tush item or items, which must be visible/prominent in the photo. If you don't currently have a twinkie tush model in your family, you may still enter by just photographing the item itself! :)

Feel free to be as creative as possible! (Try to play off the "theme" of your diaper/togs - you can use accessories and props to really amp it up - a guitar, an alien toy, a bouquet of flowers....) A simple approach is fine as well - creativity is just one of the things that will be considered. Branding is also important to us!

By submitting a photo or photos you are giving twinkie tush permission to use your photo or photos to promote or represent twinkie tush diapers, twinkie tush wool interlock, twinkie togs and/or other twinkie tush products on this blog, the twinkie tush shops on Hyena Cart and Big Cartel, twinkietush.com, twinkie tush advertisements via email, on HC and elsewhere, and the twinkie tush facebook pages. Please do not submit a photo if you do not agree to these terms. :)

Submissions will be closed on Saturday 5/27/17 at 11:59pm EST. On Monday 5/29, by mid afternoon EST, we will upload all submissions to s photo album on the main twinkie tush Facebook page. At that point, the contest really gets exciting!

First, second and third place prizes will be awarded to the 3 photos in the contest album that we feel best reflect the spirit of twinkie tush and the spirit of the individual diaper(s), wool, and/or twinkie togs pictured. Creativity, photo composition, brand reflection and of course FUN are some of the things that will be considered. :) Mike and I will choose the first, second, and third place winners, and we will announce the winners at 9pm EST on Wednesday, May 31st. While the number of "likes" a photo has will neither ensure a first place win nor preclude it from taking said prize, fan feedback is definitely something that Mike and I will take into consideration to at least some extent in making our decision on winning photos - so make sure your family and friends know to show their support for your photo by "liking" it!

Please note that only one (1) prize will be awarded for each winning photo. Should you collaborate with another family to enter a submission you would need to settle the allocation of the prize between yourselves in the event that you win.

Please note that photos must clearly show your twinkie tush diaper(s), twinkie tush wool, and/or twinkie togs and must not be offensive in any way (obviously). Please send high resolution images rather than "email" or "thumbnail" sizes, but please don't send extremely large images as they can be difficult for us to download when we get so many submissions.

We highly recommend making sure that you are achieving an optimal fit in your photos, so that the diaper(s) and/or togs look as intended. Remember, as great as it is to show your creativity and have fun with the contest, when we select a first place winner we are typically looking for the best representation of our brand. :)

Please note that no third party professional photos may be entered. Please do not submit professional photos unless you took them yourself. :) Submissions must come directly from the parent or guardian of the child in the photograph.

Please also note that photo collages cannot be entered - only one single photograph per family may be entered. Please do not add photo embellishments (borders, watermarks, doodles, hearts, etc.) Remember to keep this about the photo itself - not about how you can decorate a photo after taking it. Of course cropping and editing is fine!

If there is a problem with your submission you will receive an email response with suggestions on how to resubmit if applicable. If your submission is accepted you will receive a confirmation email within 3 business days. If you do not receive a confirmation email within that timeframe, please email again to confirm receipt, in case for some reason your initial email did not come through successfully. (But do give us 3 business days to get back to you please! :) )

Thursday, June 16, 2016

For a very long time now you have been asking us to offer our now-famous FUSION hybrid fitted diapers with organic bamboo velour inners. We have been listening and working towards this goal, and today we are ready to announce that OBV FUSIONs will be an option for pre-orders and customs beginning TODAY! We will also begin to stock occasional prints in FUSION with OBV inners. :)

Meet our newest care label!

I will be updating the group custom and mini group blog posts over the next few days to reflect this change! For mini groups all velour does still need to be uniform for the 3 diapers in the group (and the group may select OBV if they'd like!), and for larger groups each individual member will now have their choice of cv or OBV!

I also want to bring to your attention that for the first time in 4 years we will be applying a minor price increase to all of our diapers, including ready to ship, pre-order, made to order, and customs. Over the past 4 years we have absorbed several material and overhead cost increases and grown our labor force from 5 to 14 employees without raising the price of our diapers. It is very important to us to keep prices as low as we can while running an ethical made-in-America business, using the finest materials available! But today, in concert with this exciting new incorporation of the OBV FUSION into our production process, we need to make this small adjustment. Prices will go up a single dollar for all diapers, meaning SYOF custom slots will now be $37 ($29 for teenie tush), and all pre-order, In Stock Group Customs, and stocked diapers will go up $1 from $27-$48 to $28-$49. This change will be effective immediately.

We have a pretty epic pre-order week for you this week (pics coming tonight on Facebook!), and we are beyond excited to be able to offer these amazing prints in OBV FUSION as well as cv FUSION, cv fitted and OBV fitted!! Thank you for always sharing your feedback with us - it means the world to all of us here to be able to bring you something you've been hoping so very much to see!

Sunday, May 1, 2016

It's time for another twinkie tush fan photo contest, and we are EXTRA-excited about this one because we are adding submission categories for the first time!! Make sure to read through all of the info below carefully, as we will only be able to accept entries that are submitted correctly! And thank you in advance for sharing your photos and your beautiful families with us - nothing is more rewarding for the twinkie tush team than seeing your little ones enjoying our products!

Here are the details for the May 2016 Photo Contest! :)

The contest will be open for submissions from today, 5/1/16, through Sunday 5/22/16. That gives you just 3 weeks to get your entries in, so don’t delay! :) The winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 25th, at 9pm EST. Please read below for important details on how to win!

Unlike past photo contests, we will not be having first and second place winners. We will have a first place winner in EACH category (so 4 total winners). Each of those 4 winners will receive a FREE custom item of their choice (either one diaper, one dress, one tee, one blanket, OR one pair of twinkie tush wool interlock longies or shorties). Free shipping anywhere in the world will also be included! Winners may choose to send in their own fabric or work with us to choose an available in stock fabric for their item, if applicable.

Additionally, we will choose one GRAND PRIZE winner out of the 4 first place winners, to receive a $100 gift certificate to twinkietush.com in addition to their custom item prize!!

We will also draw an additional winner of a $25 gift certificate to twinkietush.com at random from all photo contest participants at the close of the contest! You will receive one entry into this drawing for participating in the photo contest, no matter how many categories you submit for. (In other words, whether you enter for one category or four, you will receive ONE entry into this random drawing.)

So now that we’ve covered prizes, here is the process:

The four categories for the May 2016 Photo Contest will be:

1) Mommy and Me: This photo must feature your child or children wearing a twinkie tush diaper and/or twinkie togs and/or twinkie tush wool interlock, and must be a photo of the child/ren with Mommy! This photo should include only Mommy and the child or children wearing their twinkie tush/twinkie togs (as opposed to also including other family members). Here are some examples of photos that would qualify for this category:

2) Sharing the twinkie tush Love with Friends and Family: This photo must feature your child or children wearing a twinkie tush diaper and/or twinkie togs and/or twinkie tush wool interlock, and must be a photo of either 2 or more of your children, or your child with one or more family members and/or friends other than Mommy. (Mommy may be in the photo, but if the photo is just baby and Mommy it would qualify for the Mommy and Me category rather than this one.) Here are some examples of photos that would qualify for this category:

3) All About that Brand: This photo must feature EITHER your child wearing a twinkie tush diaper and/or twinkie togs and/or twinkie tush wool interlock, OR may be a photo of a twinkie tush diaper and/or twinkie togs and/or twinkie tush wool interlock by itself, with a clear and legible shot of the brand label. Here are some examples of photos that would qualify for this category:

4) Anything Goes: This photo must feature your child or children wearing a twinkie tush diaper and/or twinkie togs and/or twinkie tush wool interlock, and can be anything that doesn't fit into the previous 3 categories! Here are some examples of photos that would qualify for this category:

You may enter for one, two, three, or all four categories! There is ONE submission allowed per household per category. You may not send 2 different photos for the same category.

To enter, please send one photo at a time to photocontest@twinkietush.com, using the template below. You MUST use this template, or your entry will not be included.

Email subject: Your name and the category you are submitting for (eg "Gretchen Gilpin - Mommy and Me")

The body of your email MUST contain the following information, in this order:

Your name: Your child's name (optional - you can certainly omit this information if you choose) :The category you are submitting for:The item or items featured in your photo: (eg "Track and Field diaper" or "Scorched Playground Tee with Night Lake shorties") - if there are several items visible in your photo, you need only mention the main/most featured item(s).A caption for your photo (completely optional) :

Feel free to be as creative as possible! (Try to play off the "theme" of your diaper/togs, especially in the Anything Goes category - you can use accessories and props to really amp it up - a guitar, an alien toy, a bouquet of flowers....) A simple approach is fine as well - creativity is just one of the things that will be considered.

By submitting a photo or photos you are giving twinkie tush permission to use your photo or photos to promote or represent twinkie tush diapers, twinkie tush wool interlock, twinkie togs and/or other twinkie tush products on this blog, the twinkie tush shops on Hyena Cart and Big Cartel, twinkietush.com, twinkie tush advertisements via email, on HC and elsewhere, and the twinkie tush facebook pages. Please do not submit a photo if you do not agree to these terms. :)

Submissions will be closed on Sunday 5/22/16 at 11:59pm EST. On Monday 5/23, by mid afternoon EST, we will upload all submissions to 4 photo albums (one per category) on the main twinkie tush Facebook page. At that point, the contest really gets exciting!

A first place prize will be awarded to the one photo in each of the 4 category albums that we feel best reflects the spirit of twinkie tush and the spirit of the individual diaper(s), wool, and/or twinkie togs pictured (while taking the category itself into account). Creativity, photo composition, brand reflection and of course FUN are some of the things that will be considered. :) Mike and I will choose the first place winners, and we will announce the winners at 9pm EST on Wednesday, May 25th. While the number of "likes" a photo has will neither ensure a first place win nor preclude it from taking said prize, fan feedback is definitely something that Mike and I will take into consideration to at least some extent in making our decision on a first place winner in each category - so make sure your family and friends know to show their support for your photo by "liking" it!

Please note that only one (1) first place prize will be awarded per category. Should you collaborate with another family to enter a submission you would need to settle the allocation of the prize between yourselves in the event that you win.

Please note that photos must clearly show your twinkie tush diaper(s), twinkie tush wool, and/or twinkie togs and must not be offensive in any way (obviously). Please send full size/high res images rather than "email" or "thumbnail" sizes.

We highly recommend making sure that you are achieving an optimal fit in your photos, so that the diaper(s) and/or togs look as intended. Remember, as great as it is to show your creativity and have fun with the contest, when we select a first place winner we are typically looking for the best representation of our brand. :)

Please note that no third party professional photos may be entered. Please do not submit professional photos unless you took them yourself. :) Submissions must come directly from the parent or guardian of the child in the photograph.

Please also note that photo collages cannot be entered - only one single photograph per family per category may be entered. Please do not add photo embellishments (borders, watermarks, doodles, hearts, etc.) Remember to keep this about the photo itself - not about how you can decorate a photo after taking it. Of course cropping and editing is fine!

If there is a problem with your submission you will receive an email response with suggestions on how to resubmit if applicable. If your submission is accepted you will receive a confirmation email within 3 business days. If you do not receive a confirmation email within that timeframe, please email again to confirm receipt, in case for some reason your initial email did not come through successfully. (But do give us 3 business days to get back to you please! :) )

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

It's that time again and we could not be more excited!! Announcing the July 2015 Photo Contest! We absolutely adore seeing photos of your little ones enjoying their twinkie tush diapers and twinkie togs, and we can't wait to see your entries! <3

Here are the details for the July 2015 Photo Contest! :)

The contest will be open for submissions from tomorrow, 7/1/15, through Sunday 7/26/15. That gives you just over 3 and a half weeks to get your entries in, so don’t delay! :) The winners will be announced on Wednesday, July 29th, at 9pm EST. Please read below for important details on how to win. There will be a first place and a second place winner as follows:

- First place takes home their choice of:

(a) one (1) FREE custom twinkie tush diaper, blanket or twinkie tog of their choice (based on availability of desired fabric, and SYOF is of course an option as well). Shipping of the diaper, blanket or tog is also free. (Please note that the custom item will ship 4-6 weeks after a final print decision is made or SYO fabric is received.)

OR

(b) an ULTIMATE Dibs Pass, which entitles them to select a single diaper during previews and take it home FREE, with free shipping as well. This ULTIMATE Dibs Pass would be valid on any preview day in August 2015. (Please note that occasionally there is a print offered that is not able to be claimed by a dibs pass.) More info about Dibs Passes here. (Blankets and twinkie togs are not eligible for claim by Dibs Pass.)

- Second place winner will receive a standard Dibs Pass which will allow them to select a single diaper to purchase at regular price on any one preview day in August 2015 without having to attend the stocking. (Please note that occasionally there is a print offered that is not able to be claimed by a dibs pass.) In addition, the second place winner will receive a twinkie tush accessory prize pack, featuring a replacement soaker in their choice of style and cv color (or natural OBV) and a set of 6 twinkie tush wipes!

- We will also draw an additional standard Dibs Pass winner at random from all photo contest participants at the close of the contest! This random.org Dibs Pass will be valid on any one preview day in August 2015.)

So now that we’ve covered prizes, here is the process:

To enter, simply submit a photo of your little one(s) in a twinkie tush diaper and/or twinkie togs dress or tee! twinkie tush blankets, hair clips and headbands by Hello Charlotte James for twinkie tush and/or twinkie tush collabs with Happy Hippo Knits or others we have collaborated with are of course welcome to be part of the photos, however a twinkie tush diaper or twinkie togs must be featured.

Feel free to be as creative as possible - extra consideration will always be given for creativity! (Try to play off the "theme" of your diaper/togs - you can use accessories and props to really amp it up - a guitar, an alien toy, a bouquet of flowers....) A simple approach is fine as well - creativity is just one of the things that will be considered.

Photos can be sent to photocontest@twinkietush.com. By submitting a photo you are giving twinkie tush permission to use your photo to promote or represent twinkie tush diapers, twinkie togs and/or other twinkie tush products on this blog, the twinkie tush shops on Hyena Cart and Big Cartel, twinkietush.com, twinkie tush advertisements via email, on HC and elsewhere, and the twinkie tush facebook pages. Please do not submit a photo if you do not agree to these terms. :)

Submissions will be closed on Sunday 7/26/15 at 11:59pm EST. On Monday 7/27, by mid afternoon EST, we will upload all submissions to a photo album on the main twinkie tush facebook page called "July 2015 photo contest!" At that point, the contest really gets exciting!

First place will be awarded to the photo *in the " July 2015 photo contest" album* that we feel best reflects the spirit of twinkie tush and the spirit of the individual diaper(s) and/or togs pictured. Creativity, photo composition, brand reflection and of course FUN are some of the things that will be considered. :) Mike and I will choose the first place winner, and we will announce the winner at 9pm EST on Wednesday, July 29th.

Second place will go to the photo in the " July 2015 photo contest" album that receives the most "likes". Please note that "likes" on photos outside of the specified album will not count as votes for that photo. You, and your friends and family, may "like" multiple photos if you choose (you don't have to pick just one). Comments are welcome of course, but will not count towards a photo's "tally". Since it is possible to "like" and then "unlike" something on facebook, we will go with the count as it is at exactly 9pm EST on Wednesday, 7/29.

An important note: you cannot win both first and second place ;) While the number of "likes" a photo has will neither ensure a first place win nor preclude it from taking said prize, fan feedback is something that Mike and I may take into consideration to at least some extent in making our decision on a first place winner. In the event that we choose the "highest likes" photo for first place, that photo is no longer eligible to take a second place win. In other words if photo A has the highest number with 200 likes and photo B has 199 likes, and we choose photo A as our first place winner, second place will go to photo B. If we choose photo B, or any other photo in the album, as our first place winner, second place will go to photo A.

Please note that only one (1) first place and one (1) second place prize will be awarded. Should you collaborate with another family to enter a submission you would need to settle the allocation of the prize between yourselves in the event that you win.

Please note that you may enter only one (1) photo per household for this contest. Also note that photos must clearly show your twinkie tush diaper(s) and/or twinkie togs and must not be offensive in any way (obviously). Please send full size/high res images rather than "email" or "thumbnail" sizes.

We highly recommend making sure that you are achieving an optimal fit in your photos, so that the diaper(s) and/or togs look as intended. Remember, as great as it is to show your creativity and have fun with the contest, when we select a first place winner we are looking for the best representation of our brand. :)

Please note that beginning with this contest, no third party professional photos may be entered. Please do not submit professional photos unless you took them yourself. :) Submissions must come directly from the parent or guardian of the child in the photograph.

Please also note that photo collages cannot be entered - only one single photograph per family may be entered.

If there is a problem with your submission you will receive an email response with suggestions on how to resubmit if applicable. If your submission is accepted you will receive a confirmation email within 2 business days. If you do not receive a confirmation email within that timeframe, please email again to confirm receipt, in case for some reason your initial email did not come through successfully. (But do give us 2 business days to get back to you please! :) )

Saturday, January 3, 2015

It's time for another photo contest! As always we are beyond excited to see your entries!! Photos of your little ones in twinkie tush diapers and twinkie togs bring us so much joy and pride! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful families with us by sending in your photos!!

Here are the details for the January 2015 Photo Contest! :)

The contest will be open for submissions from today, 1/3/15, through Sunday 1/25/15. That gives you just over 3 weeks to get your entries in, so don’t delay! :) The winners will be announced on Wednesday, January 28th, at 9pm EST. Please read below for important details on how to win. There will be a first place and a second place winner as follows:

- First place takes home their choice of:

(a) a FREE custom twinkie tush diaper of their choice (based on availability of desired fabric, and SYOF is of course an option as well). Shipping of the diaper is also free. (Please note that the custom diaper will ship 4-6 weeks after a final print decision is made or SYO fabric is received.)

OR

(b) an ULTIMATE Dibs Pass, which entitles them to select a single diaper during previews and take it home FREE, with free shipping as well. This ULTIMATE Dibs Pass would be valid on any preview day in February 2015. (Please note that occasionally there is a print offered that is not able to be claimed by a dibs pass.) More info about Dibs Passes here.

- Second place winner will receive a standard Dibs Pass which will allow them to select a single diaper to purchase at regular price on any one preview day in February 2015 without having to attend the stocking. (Please note that occasionally there is a print offered that is not able to be claimed by a dibs pass.) In addition, the second place winner will receive a twinkie tush accessory prize pack, featuring a replacement soaker in their choice of style and cv color (or natural OBV) and a set of 6 twinkie tush wipes!

- We will also draw an additional standard Dibs Pass winner at random from all photo contest participants at the close of the contest! This random.org Dibs Pass will be valid on any one preview day in February 2015.)

So now that we’ve covered prizes, here is the process:

To enter, simply submit a photo of your little one(s) in a twinkie tush diaper and/or twinkie togs dresses or tees! twinkie tush blankets, hair clips and headbands by Hello Charlotte James for twinkie tush and/or twinkie tush collabs with Happy Hippo Knits or others we have collaborated with are of course welcome to be part of the photos, however a twinkie tush diaper or twinkie togs must be featured.

Feel free to be as creative as possible - extra consideration will always be given for creativity! (Try to play off the "theme" of your diaper/togs - you can use accessories and props to really amp it up - a guitar, an alien toy, a bouquet of flowers....) A simple approach is fine as well - creativity is just one of the things that will be considered.

Photos can be sent to photocontest@twinkietush.com. By submitting a photo you are giving twinkie tush permission to use your photo to promote or represent twinkie tush diapers, twinkie togs and/or other twinkie tush products on this blog, the twinkie tush shops on Hyena Cart and Big Cartel, twinkietush.com, twinkie tush advertisements via email, on HC and elsewhere, and the twinkie tush facebook pages. Please do not submit a photo if you do not agree to these terms. :)

Submissions will be closed on Sunday 1/25/15 at 11:59pm EST. On Monday 1/26, by mid afternoon EST, we will upload all submissions to a photo album on the main twinkie tush facebook page called "January 2015 photo contest!" At that point, the contest really gets exciting!

First place will be awarded to the photo *in the " January 2015 photo contest" album* that we feel best reflects the spirit of twinkie tush and the spirit of the individual diaper(s) and/or togs pictured. Creativity, photo composition, brand reflection and of course FUN are some of the things that will be considered. :) Mike and I will choose the first place winner, and we will announce the winner at 9pm EST on Wednesday, January 28th.

Second place will go to the photo in the " January 2015 photo contest" album that receives the most "likes". Please note that "likes" on photos outside of the specified album will not count as votes for that photo. You, and your friends and family, may "like" multiple photos if you choose (you don't have to pick just one). Comments are welcome of course, but will not count towards a photo's "tally". Since it is possible to "like" and then "unlike" something on facebook, we will go with the count as it is at exactly 9pm EST on Wednesday, 1/28.

An important note: you cannot win both first and second place ;) While the number of "likes" a photo has will neither ensure a first place win nor preclude it from taking said prize, fan feedback is something that Mike and I may take into consideration to at least some extent in making our decision on a first place winner. In the event that we choose the "highest likes" photo for first place, that photo is no longer eligible to take a second place win. In other words if photo A has the highest number with 200 likes and photo B has 199 likes, and we choose photo A as our first place winner, second place will go to photo B. If we choose photo B, or any other photo in the album, as our first place winner, second place will go to photo A.

Please note that only one (1) first place and one (1) second place prize will be awarded. Should you collaborate with another family to enter a submission you would need to settle the allocation of the prize between yourselves in the event that you win.

Please note that you may enter only one (1) photo per household for this contest. Also note that photos must clearly show your twinkie tush diaper(s) and/or twinkie togs and must not be offensive in any way (obviously). Please send full size/high res images rather than "email" or "thumbnail" sizes.

We highly recommend making sure that you are achieving an optimal fit in your photos, so that the diaper(s) and/or togs look as intended. Remember, as great as it is to show your creativity and have fun with the contest, when we select a first place winner we are looking for the best representation of our brand. :)

Please note that photographs taken by professional photographers outside of your immediate family are not eligible to win first place in the contest.

Please also note that photo collages cannot be entered - only one single photograph per family may be entered.

If there is a problem with your submission you will receive an email response with suggestions on how to resubmit if applicable. If your submission is accepted you will receive a confirmation email within 2 business days. If you do not receive a confirmation email within that timeframe, please email again to confirm receipt, in case for some reason your initial email did not come through successfully. (But do give us 2 business days to get back to you please! :) )

Saturday, August 23, 2014

We’ve had tons of requests for custom wipes lately and we
want to make them happen for you!! We’ve
been talking about the best way to set this up and we’re ready to give you the scoop on what we feel capable of adding to production!

At this point we will ONLY be offering custom wipes as
add-ons within other groups (in other words, no wipe-only groups). You may add them to your custom diaper group (mini
or large), or your blanket or twinkie togs group!
And for now you may only order wipes in a group if you have also ordered
another item (diaper, blanket or clothing) in the group. (In other words, no wipe-only members. For example in a custom diaper and blanket
group, a member can order a diaper + wipes, a blanket + wipes, OR a diaper +
blanket + wipes, but NOT just wipes.)

The minimum number of wipes a group member can order is 3,
and the 3-pack of wipes will be shipped together (they cannot be separated into
2 or more packages). If a group member
orders 6 wipes they will receive 2 3-packs, etc. The minimum total number of wipes a group can
order is 6 (2 3-packs).

For any group containing wipes, there must be an additional column added to your spreadsheet so that group members can state the number of 3-packs they would like to order. The column header must read "wipe 3-packs". If a member writes "3" in their row, they are signing up to order 9 total wipes (3 3-packs).

The cost per custom 3-pack of wipes will be $9 plus
shipping. Wipes may be made with
assorted velour, either OBV or cv at our discretion, or may be made with the
same velour used for the diapers or blankets.
At this time we cannot accommodate any requests for specific velour
backings for wipes. Similarly, wipes may
be made with the same thread color or different thread colors than the other
group items, at our discretion.

Wipes will only be made with knit or minky fabrics at this
time (swim and velour are fine). Fabric
requirements for wipes are ½ yard per 6 wipes, at a minimum 56” fabric width. No exceptions will be made. This yardage MUST be present in addition to your
other required yardage (it can be continuous or a la carte). We will measure
fabric before cutting to ensure adequate yardage has been sent, and if it has
not we will not be able to make your wipes.

As always, any fabric sent in for group customs becomes
property of twinkie tush. Any remaining
fabric will be used at our discretion.

Sometimes fabric that is sent in for group orders contains
flaws, printing or otherwise. We always
do our best to spot any flaws and cut around them whenever possible. However, sometimes flaws are missed. twinkie tush does not take responsibility for
fabric flaws on fabric that has been sent in for group custom orders.

Please note that, while we are excited about offering custom
wipes and are thrilled to be able to do so, it may add a level of administrative, production
and shipping labor that we find it is not sustainable for us. We will be doing this on a trial basis over
the next month or two and may reevaluate as needed. Thank you so much for understanding! <3

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Here is the official custom twinkie togs blog post! :) This post will contain everything you need to
know about ordering custom twinkie togs, and will be updated if and when
anything changes so that it is always current!

Custom togs may be ordered in groups of 3-15 items. At present we will be offering send your own
fabric (SYOF) group customs only. All
items within a single group must be the same (eg 10 Flutter Dresses) but group
members may choose as many different sizes as they would like. Currently, togs groups cannot be combined or
added onto diaper or blanket groups. If
that changes we will of course update this post!

Pricing:

Pricing per item for custom twinkie togs, made to your size
specifications with the fabric you choose and send in, is as follows (not
including shipping):

Playground Tee: $24

Boardwalk Tee: $24

Shortstop Tee: $26

Homecoming Tee: $26

Flutter Dress: $39

Cozy Day Dress: $41

Tea Party Dress: $43.50

Dinner Party Dress: $46.50

Garden Fairy Dress: $48

For the time being, we will stock custom slots on www.twinkietush.com at our
stockings. If listings sell out we will
re-stock each week, and if we discover that we need to move to a different
system we may do so.

The Group Leader, or any group member, can purchase the
appropriate group listing, thereby paying for their own slot. And here is where we are doing things a bit
differently than we do with diapers and blankets. Due to the limitations of certain fabrics
with certain styles of togs, all fabric must be approved by twinkie tush before
group production commences. We will not
invoice the rest of the group members until the group fabric has been
approved. Before purchasing a group
slot, you can certainly email groupcustoms@twinkietush.com
so that we can weigh in on your fabric.
We may be able to approve it based on a fabric listing, but please note
that in some cases it is not possible for us to tell until we have a fabric in
hand whether or not it is usable for the selected togs style. We are going to do everything in our power to
make sure that you are well informed about fabrics so that you do not waste
time and money sending in a fabric that will not work. Please take a moment to read through the
following section before planning a group.

What constitutes a good togs fabric vs. a not so good
choice?

Some choices that would NOT work:

Swimsuit knits: We will not be able to use any traditional
poly lycra or swimsuit fabric for togs.
Please note that the cotton-like poly lycra options offered as “modern
jersey” by Spoonflower or “perfect poly jersey” by Ixat ARE an acceptable
choice, however. “Performance knit” at
Spoonflower is NOT an acceptable choice.

Wovens: Woven fabrics (sometimes called quilting cotton or
100% cotton woven) are NOT an acceptable choice for any of the togs styles we
offer at this time.

Sweatshirting: Sweatshirt knits are not something we can
work with with any of our existing styles.

Some GOOD choices:

Euro knits: Euro knits are a very good choice. Etsy and DaWanda offer many Euro knit
options. Things labeled “Jersey/Elastin”
are an example of a great choice in almost all cases.

Cotton Lycra: Most cotton lycra is a very good choice. Many sellers offer cotton lycra options,
including Ixat, Funkalicious, Girl Charlee, Banberry Place, Nature’s Fabrics and
Cuddle Muffins fabric (to name just a few!)

Cotton-like poly Jersey by reputable sellers: “Modern
Jersey” at Spoonflower and “Perfect Poly Jersey” from Ixat are very good
choices.

Iffy choices:

Ribs: Rib knits and baby rib knits work on a limited basis, but do not work well with certain styles. If you are considering a rib knit, please be aware that it may be problematic.

French Terry: French Terry does not offer the stretch and drape we need for our current dress styles, but can be used for tees.

Questionable knits: Very thin jersey can also be problematic, and does not make for durable, high quality togs. It can be very hard to tell from a fabric listing how thin a fabric is, unfortunately. We highly recommend sticking with the recommended fabric types rather than venturing too far into the unknown.

Many fabrics labeled “interlock” or “jersey” would be good
choices, but sometimes a very thin weight or lack of stretch can make for a low
quality choice. This is an example of
something that cannot be approved over email but may be approved once we have
the fabric in hand.

Facebook printing groups: While many groups put out high
quality prints, we have received some truly awful quality fabrics from some of
these groups as well in the course of executing diaper group customs. We cannot recommend any specific sellers in
this case and encourage you to exercise caution and ask for feedback from prior
customers of a printing group before risking purchasing a fabric that cannot be
used. We have had to send back prints on
behalf of diaper groups in the past and these poorly printed, low quality base
fabrics would not be an acceptable choice for togs either. I do want to reiterate, however, that we have
also received lovely fabric from some of these groups, which would work well
for togs.

All fabric must be knit, and minimum of 55" wide. All yardage must be continuous.

We will add to this section as applicable so that we can
keep you constantly informed as to the best sources and types of good togs
fabric, but want to reiterate that we reserve the right to decline a group’s
fabric if we feel it will not make high quality items. And we also want to reiterate that if your
fabric is not approved over email you run the risk of it being declined once
sent in.

How exactly do I get my fabric approved and what happens if
it is declined?

Group Leaders MUST email groupcustoms@twinkietush.com
with a link to their chosen fabric along with their group spreadsheet within 24
hours of purchasing the group slot, and you must hear back from us BEFORE
sending in your fabric. We will respond
to your email within 48 business hours. This
is to save you the expense of possibly sending inappropriate fabric. If you have had your fabric for a while and
no longer have a link to the description, please describe the fabric as best
you can and include a photo.

We will respond with either a definite go, a definite no, or
a possible go. If you get a definite no,
please do not send in your fabric. You can choose another fabric with your
group or forfeit your slot (in which case of course the Group Leader will be
refunded). If you get a definite go,
please send in your fabric! Fabric MUST
be sent within one week of our reply email, and you must provide a tracking
number to your group as well as to us at TTHQ.

If you get a possible go, you can choose to send in your
fabric or elect not to take the risk. If
you choose not to take the risk, you can choose another fabric with your group
or you can forfeit your slot (and again receive a refund for the leader’s
slot).

If tracking is not received or another fabric is not selected
within one week of our response email, your group will be cancelled.

When your fabric arrives we will give final approval and
invoice all remaining group members. The payment window is 48 hours from the payment link email - all payments must be received within that timeframe.

If
your fabric is not usable, we will email the group to alert you and we will
invoice the Group Leader for return shipping so that we can return the unusable
fabric to you. We highly recommend Group
Leaders refund group members’ payments for unusable fabric. That means that the financial risk of a
potentially unusable fabric would fall to the Group Leader. This is not required – the final decision is
yours, but all members should be aware of the Group Leader’s policy with
regards to what happens in the event that the group’s fabric is unusable. (Members - ask your Group Leader about this
before submitting fabric payment.) Again,
please take advantage of the guidance offered above and our opinions via email
so that you do not end up sending in something that will not work. It is our hope that 100% of the fabric that
makes its way to TTHQ for custom twinkie togs is approved!

What must be included on the Group Spreadsheet?

The group spreadsheet should be a google doc or attached
excel spreadsheet, containing all of the following for each group member:

1 - Full member name

2 - Member name as it appears in paypal account

3 - Member contact email

4 - Member paypal email

6 – Size preference (Please make sure to select a size we
offer for your chosen style – that info is below.)

It is essential that the group name includes the togs style
(eg Fiona Tea Party Dress Group).

All Tea Party, Flutter and Garden Fairy Dresses will be made
with a single print, which you send in.
All tee styles and the Cozy Day Dress style will have solid color
sleeves and neckbands, which we will provide.
You can express a group preference for this accent color if you would
like to. It must appear on your
spreadsheet in a single line (not different colors for different group
members). Eg “brown sleeves if possible”. You will ALSO need to convey this preference
in your initial group email which contains the fabric link and the
spreadsheet. If you do not express a
preference in BOTH the email and the spreadsheet, we cannot guarantee we will receive
your preference. And please note that
while we will do our best to accommodate such preferences, we may not have the
color you ask for and we may feel in person that it is not the right
choice. Final selection of accent color will
be made by Gretchen at TTHQ.

and now size 9/10 and 11/12 as well!
Dinner Party Dress: sizes 12m-8 and now size 9/10 and 11/12 as well!

Garden Fairy Dress: sizes 6m-8

Please see the sizing charts at the end of this blog post.

Fabric requirements for all styles can be found at the end
of this blog post.

At this point we are not offering special print placement
options, but we will always do our best to get you the optimal cuts for your
togs.

Other things you should know:

*Sometimes fabric that is sent in for group orders contains
flaws, printing or otherwise. We always
do our best to spot any flaws and cut around them whenever possible. However, sometimes flaws are missed. twinkie tush does not take responsibility for
fabric flaws on fabric that has been sent in for group custom orders.

*Custom twinkie togs will ship within 4-6 weeks of the end
of the group invoice period.

*Once invoiced, group members have 48 hours to pay for their
slots, or they will be forfeited. We
reserve the right to cancel a group and return fabric at the group’s cost if
the majority of the group fails to pay for their slots.

*Shipping of the fabric to TTHQ is the responsibility of the
group, as is return shipping in the event that a fabric is deemed unusable.

*All approved fabric becomes property of twinkie tush and may be used in whatever way twinkie tush sees fit once a group order is fulfilled.

*Pricing and policy is subject to change at any time.

Below are the size
charts and fabric requirement charts! Have fun planning – we can’t
wait to make your custom twinkie togs for you!!

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About Me

My name is Gretchen Gilpin and I am the creator, owner and chief operator of twinkie tush cloth diapers! My husband Mike and I work together to run twinkie tush, along with a growing team of employees! twinkie tush was named after our now almost 6 year old twins, M&D!